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Council Chairman Harps On Peace, Development

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Andoni Local Government Area Chairman, Barr Erastus Awortu, has called on traditional rulers, chiefs and stakeholders, who believe in the peace and development of the local government to rise and work with the council to rescue the area from miscreants, saying that the era of darkness is over in the area.
Awortu made the call when he led some Andoni refugees in Ogoni land in Isiokwan district of the area, back to their various communities last Wednesday.
The chairman said it was obvious that some communities’ members including some chiefs and stakeholders had not only lost capacities to solve the insecurity problem plaguing the area, but suddenly became informants to some of the cultist brothers and friends.
“It is unfortunate that all of us are parts of the insecurity problem plaguing our communities, this is because some of us including some chiefs have already taken side with some of the miscreants, may be, to attract their support to our chieftaincy struggle, some of us have sympathy for them as brothers and friends.
“Some of us even served as informants to the boys, but let me tell you, cultists don’t have brothers, they do not have any father, neither mother nor sister, they also have no secrets, whatever dealing you are having with them is already known by the opponents, and so when they are coming for their opponents, they also attack you as informant and sypathisers to their opponents.
“I am pleading with all of us, including the chiefs to shun the cult boys in our families and communities let us come together to fight against the activities of the miscreants. Our houses are being destroyed on daily basis, no development is coming to our area, innocent lives are going down every day, our economic activities are stagnant, our children are no more going to school, we are gradually going backward, what benefits do we have?
“Enough is enough, I have already given my consent to security men, not to spare any of the criminals and their informants, if they refused to drop their guns, the era of darkness in Andoni is over.
“We are not against any person or group, but we will not allow any person or group to enter any of our communities with weapons, we must chase them away or bring them to face the wrath of law in the state.
We are also ready to receive any genuine repentant ones and even make them live a normal live,” the chairman warned.
Erastus used the opportunity to flag-off 20,000-gallon capacity tank water project at Ibotirem Community in Isiokwam District of Andoni LGA.
According to him, his administration has commenced the water project as proactive step to check cholera outbreak ahead of the dry session, usually associated with the disease in Nigeria. “Andoni is an area where cholera is almost endemic, basically because we lack potable water; so, the provision of potable water is one of the cardinal concerns of my administration.
“We will ensure that we banished cholera out of Andoni.”
Awortu explained that while the council administration endeavoured to ensure the safe return of displaced person, it would also ensure that the area no longer remained vulnerable to cholera.
He said “just as we are trying to ensure the safe return of displaced persons, we also find it necessary to provide potable water in the communities to check cholera, which leads to deaths during dry season.

By: Enoch Epelle

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Rivers

NSE Members Tasked On National Dev

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Members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, have been urged to work hard towards contributing to national development. This call was made at the recent induction of new members by the Port Harcourt branch of the Society. The induction ceremony was used to formally welcome new members and celebrate its elevated new fellows.
Speaking during the ceremony held a in Port Harcourt, the Branch Chairman, Engr. Idaeresoari Ateke Harriet, FNSE, called on members of the NSE to actively participate in the Society’s professional and technical activities in order to contribute meaningfully to national development. He congratulated the new inductees, describing their admission as a testament to their hard work and resilience.
Engr. Ateke also commended the new Fellows for their immense contributions to the engineering profession, reminding them that their elevation is a call to greater responsibility as mentors and role models.
The event featured a lecture by Engr. Prof. Steve Odi-Owei, FNSE, on “Opportunities and Challenges in Nigeria’s Blue Economy.” The Chairman noted that Nigeria’s maritime and aquatic resources remain largely untapped, adding that engineers have a crucial role to play in harnessing these resources for economic growth and environmental sustainability.
He thanked the first female President of NSE, Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, other dignitaries, sponsors, and families of inductees for gracing the occasion.
Also, engineers, especially those in Rivers State have been advised to adhere strictly to the core ethics of the profession and to always uphold the professional ethics of the body.
This advice was given by an engineering expert, Basoene Benibo, in an interview with at the sidelines of the  induction ceremony and Fellowship celebration of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
Benibo stressed the need for young engineers in the state to learn and improve on their skills by tapping from the wealth of experience of older professionals in the field to enable them excel.
 Benibo, who is a one-time Chairman of the Port Harcourt Chapter of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, also noted and hailed the efforts of the society in eliminating quackery in the engineering profession.
Some of the new fellows include Prof Jackson Akpa, Pereowei Jose’s and Telema Osima, while the inductees, Engr Mrs Lizzy Onwuso, Engr David Jonathan jnr and Worlu Emmanuel expressed joy in being found worthy to become full NSE members, believing that it would enable them have access to more knowledge, practice rightly and impact the society positively.
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VALVA Restates Commitment Education Advancement, Literacy In Nigeria

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The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Dr. Dominic Amenaghawon Omokaro, has expressed deep commitment to the advancement of education and literacy in Nigeria through the library system.
Speaking through his state Chairman Dr. Chidara Okachukwu Nyemezu, at the formal Launching/inauguration of the Vanguard for Library Visibility And Advocacy (VALVA) at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Port Harcourt recently, Omokaro discribed the inauguration of the new body as a significant and  passionate movement aimed at shining the spotlight on one of the underappreciated yet critical institution in Nigeria’s educational system and national development.
“We are gathered here not just to launch a group, but to launch a vision and ignite a movement to reinforce a mission to make libraries visible and valuable again for our people”, he said.
Dr. Omokaro stated that the birth of VALVA is based of the recognition that libraries, particularly school libraries, are the bedrock of  promoting a reading and research culture that includes innovation and lifelong learning in the society, though the system is grossly underfunded and poorly equipped in many cases.
He recalled the theme of its first week under his watch, “Library System for National Development in 2022”, which he hinted was driven by the state chapters.
He explained that the inauguration of VALVA shows an important mission to promote the visibility and development with impact on schools and other libraries through strategic advocacy that will advance quality education and foster lifelong learning culture in Nigeria.
“The vision is clear to promote the visibility where every school and indeed every community will have access to a functional library managed by a professional Liberian”, he said.
Speaking with journalists at the sideline of the event, the founder of the VALVA, Dr. Juliet C. Akex-Nmec, stressed that no society can grow without a functional and  effective library.
She urged government at all levels to ensure the establishment of effective and functional libraries across the country.
Dr. Alex-Nmec, who is also an Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Rivers State University, called for the appointment of a Special Adviser on Library matters by the state government in order to assist the government on Library matters.
High point of the event was the formal inaugural of the new body and oath of offices to the new executive.
Akujobi Amadi
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Rivers

Rivers Judiciary Denies Issuing Court Order Stopping SOLAD from Swearing in RSCSC Members

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The Rivers State Judiciary has denied a media report claiming that Justice Frank Onyiri of the State High Court issued an injunction order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), from inaugurating the newly appointed members of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission (RSCSC).

 

In a statement issued by the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of litigation at the High Court, Menenen Poromon (Esq), the state Judiciary disassociated itself from the report, describing it as malicious and fabricated.

 

The statement emphasized that the report was a falsehood and a misrepresentation of what transpeared in the court.

 

Poromon clarified that no such order was issued by Justice Onyiri or any other judge of the High Court of the state and urged the public to disregard the information, as it lacked any iota of truth.

 

The statement however advised the public to verify any information concerning the state Judiciary directly from the office of the Chief Registrar, High Court of the State, to avoid spreading of misinformation.

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